Electric connecting device



Mal ch 11, 1941.

A. VON RARREL ELECTRIC CONNECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/ai INVENTOR Alexqnde; 1/027 Farrel,

' ATTO RKIEYS ELECTRIC CONNECTING DEVIC E Filed Sept; 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR Alexdnder Von Barrel, /"/6. BY

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ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTING DEVICE Alexander von Barrel, Hamburg, N. Y.

Application September26, 1939, Serial No. 296,639 2 Claims. (c1. 173-4341) My invention relates in general to an electric connecting device and particularly to that type of device which is associated with one or more connector plugs which may be placed at any 5 point or points throughout the length of the device.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that attempts have heretofore been made to produce such a connecting device provided with semi-rigid bus bars in the form of rigid wires, curved plates, or the like. Thedifiiculty with such devices is, however, that when one plug is inserted, it spreads the bus bars laterally away from each other over a considerable longitudinal distance, and if another plug is inserted adjacent to the first plug the prongs of the second plug will tend to force the bus bars away from the prongs of. the first plug, resulting either in the breaking of the electric contact altogether or removing the pressure on the prongs to such a degree as to cause arcing between the parts, which of course is prohibitive in electrical fixtures.

The principal object of my invention has been to overcome these objections by using bus bars of such design that they will yield laterally under spring tension over substantially only n covered by the prongs of any particri tor plug, whereby another plug plac 39 the first plug will also have proper electrical contact with such bus bars.

Another object has been to provide bus bars of flexible wire in the form of a helical coil loosely mounted within'their coacting grooves whereby the amount of distortion produced upon the bus bars at each side of the inserted prongs of a connecting plug is very much less than when ,solid bars are used, with the result that good electrical contact upon the prongs of connectors till is assured, no matter how many are used or how closely they are arranged.

Another object has been to provide a device of this nature which may be cut in any desired lengths, thus making it convenient to merchan- 4L5 dise.

Another object has been to provide a device of this nature which shall be inexpensive to manufacture and which shall not require the use of tools or the service of a skilled workman. A further object is to provide a connector for cooperation with the bodymember of my device.

Furthermore, the body member of my device, being flexible, maybe bent in various forms, such as letters or the like, for signs.

55 The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view thereof taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 5 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of one of the bus bars taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a slightly modified form of body member showing a supply connector plug attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the form of invention shown in Fig. 4.

I Fig. 6 is a modified form of body member.

Fig. 7 is another modified form of body mem- .ber.

Fig. 8 is another modification of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a modified form of supply connector plug.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a modified form of connector plug.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the form of connector plug of Fig. 10 being used in connection with an electric sign.

My device comprises a body member made from suitable dielectric material but flexible in nature such, for instance, as rubber. It is provided with a base It having flanges ll whereby the member may be secured in position. Extending through the member and opening at the top edge thereof are two interspaced grooves I9 separated by a centrally arranged ridge 20. The spacing of the grooves I9 and therefore the width of the ridge 20 is such that the grooves will receive the prongs 2! of a connector 22. Outer walls '23 are therefore provided on the body member, and in the inner face of each of these walls is formed a semi-circular groove 24 in each oi. which is mounted one of the bus bars 25 of my invention. 40

Each of the bus bars is made from flexible wire 26 coiled in the form of a helix, as shown in Fig.

3. When assembling the bus bars in the body member, the bars may be slipped endwise into the grooves M while separating the walls slightly or, if desired or found necessary, the walls 23 may be forced away from the central ridge 2|] sufiiciently so as to allow the bars to be forced down into the groooves l9 until they come 0pposite the grooves 24, whereupon they will snap into position where they will be resiliently held in place.

As hereinbefore stated, the body member of my invention may be made in pieces of considerable length and kept in .rolls of convenient size 5 fromwhich it may be dispensed by cutting to lengths of desired sizes. The bus bars likewise may be made in long lengths and cut to the desired length when being sold or put into use. When the body member is thus severed, the grooves I9 and 2:3 will be open at both ends and in such case it is desirable to use an end block 38, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Each of these blocks is preferably of the same contour as that of the body member and forms a finish for the ends of the member as well as closing the open ends of the grooves.

In cases where it is desired to make my invention having body parts of definite lengths, or where it is desired to dispense with the use of the end blocks 31 the body member M of Fig. 7 may be molded in one piece with an end wall 32 at each end thereof for closing the ends of the prong grooves 33 and the ends of the bus bar grooves 3 The bus bars 25 in this form of invention are therefore cut to proper lengths so as to extend between the walls 32 between which they are enclosed. When assembling this form of invention the bus bars may be forced down through the prong grooves into the bus bar grooves, owing to the resiliency of the body member, after which the prong grooves will assume their natural shape.

The bus bars of my invention may be energized by being connected to a suitable source of electric current in any suitable and well-known manner. However, in Fig. 4 I have shown a supply connector plug 35 for connecting the supply Wires 36 thereof to a point of permanent connection to a source of supply or to a regular connector plug which can be inserted in a regular electric outlet. Thi plug is provided with the usual prongs 40 to which the supply wires 36 are attached in well-known manner and is also provided with side flanges 4| in interspaced relation with each other and with the prongs. The body member 42 of this form of invention is provided with a centrally arranged ridge 43 and two side walls 44 between which are provided the prong grooves 45, as in the other form of invention. The side walls 4| are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the upper portion of the body member 42, or. slightly less than such width, and they are engaged with the outer surfaces of the walls 45. The inner faces of each of these flanges may be formed with longitudinal ridges 46 which engage with retaining grooves 50 formed longitudinally in the outer faces of the walls 44. at points where they will engage the ridges 46 when the prongs of the plug have been pushed down to a point of engagement with the bus bars 25. The flanges M, as shown in Fig. 5, are so proportioned that they project beyond the limits of projection of the prong 40, so that the prongs will be properly shielded should the connector plug be withdrawn and removed from the body member while still being connected to the supply of current. Obviously, when this connector plug is applied to the body member, the rubber is of such nature as to be sufficiently resilient to allow the ridges to compress the walls 44 until they reach the retaining grooves 50 where they will become engaged and thus firmly hold the supply plug in position. While the flanges 4| serve to hold the connector in place against accidental detachment, it is also obvious that they counteract the spreading action of the walls when the prongs are in engagement with the bus bars, therefore preventing the parts from becoming distorted and assuring an efflcient electrical contact.

Instead of having the body member rectangular in shape, it is possible either to arrange it in circular form or to provide it with a circularly molded body 5i shown in the form of Fig. 8. Such body is provided with prong grooves 52 as in the other nm of invention, through each of which a bus bar 25 is engageable when the prongs of a connector plug are forced through the grooves. This form of invention is useful where it is desirable to have a number of outlets on, for instance, a table for the connection of a number of electrical appliances. I have not shown the bus bars connected in any way to a source of electric current but itis obvious that the supply connector plug of Fig. 4 may be employed or the bus bars may be otherwise connected in well-known manner.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modified form of supply connector plug for energizing the bus bars of my invention. In this figure 53 represents the usual outlet wall box having one or more outlets 54 covered by the usual plate 55. The body member of my invention terminates at a point close to the outlet 56 and the ends of the bus bar grooves 22 as well as the prong grooves l9 are open at this end. The outlet plug 56 in this form of invention is of dielectric material, preferably rigid, and it is provided with two contact bars 66 which are molded in place in well-known manner. These bus bars are each provided with legs 6i and 62. The legs 6i which are preferably shorter than the legs 62 are designed for engagement with the bus bars 25, Whereas the legs 62, being longer, project beyond the plane of the base of the body member, and extend into to openings formed in the outlet 54 where they engage in well-known manner the spring contacts (not shown) carrying current from the outlet 54.

In the modified form of Fig. 6 the body member 90 is enclosed within a rigid housing having interspaced top flanges 92, whereby the body of relatively soft rubber may be firmly supported when a relatively rigid device is desired. Prong grooves I9 are formed in this device and bus bars 25 are mounted within grooves 2'8 as in the form of invention shown in Fig. 1.

It is within the scope of my invention to apply it to advertising signs using letters, figures or the like, and in Fig. 10 I show a connector plug 63 for this purpose. This plug is provided with contact prongs 8d and with retaining flanges in a manner similar to the supply connector plug 35 of Fig. 4. The inner faces of the retaining flanges are provided with longitudinal ridges 56, like and for the same purpose as those of the connector plug of Fig. 4. Instead, however, of having a supply wire extend from this plug, it is provided with a socket ill for the reception of an electric light bulb l l. ary manner an electric sign 12 having letters 13 and M. The body part of each of these letters is formed with prong grooves 75 and is otherwise equipped with bus bars (not shown), as in the other forms of the invention. It is obvious that after the body parts of the letters are formed in the desired shape, any number of connector plugs with the corresponding number of lights may be used in each letter and the spacing of the lights is limited only by the diameter of the plug or the bulb used therein. These letters may be secured in any desired way to the sign base and may have their bus bars connected together by a suitable In Fig 11 I show in fragment-' till lead 16 having a connector plug 80 at each end thereof for contact with the bus bars of each letter. The lead Bl, shown connected to the letter '83, may either be a'lead coming from the preceding letter shown broken off in the sign, or may be a supply lead for connecting current to the bus bars.

While in Fig. 1 I have shown my invention as attached to a baseboard of a room, it is obvious that it may be used in any other desired place or in any other desired manner. Furthermore, any desired length of outlet may be used and it may extend around a room, if desired, to make it possible to attach an appliance at any desired or convenient place without the use of a long con necting electric cord,

in Fig. 3, which is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a body member taken on line of Fig. 2, I show the action of one of the bus bars till when engaged by one of the prongs ii of a connector lit is a feature of my invention to so proportion the bus bars that the diameter thereof in relation to the engaging grooves is such that the bars rest loosely within the grooves so as to be freely moved laterally therein and be freely distorted. over a relatively small area when engaged by the prongs of a connector plug. As illustrated in the figure, when the prongs ll of a connector plug are forced down into the grooves ill, the convolutions iii of each bus bar which are contacted by the engaging prong will be forced outwardly away from the central ridge ill and pressed against the resilient material of the body parts it, Due to the fact that the bus bars iii are backed up by resilient material and that they are free to float within their engaging grooves,

each of them will be distorted along a curved line of substantially compound formation, as shown in this figure. As here shown, the convolutions tt engaged by the prong ti are depressed and successive convolutions lit at each side thereof will gradually approach their normal positions in the bar and beyond this point successive convolutions t l will be nearer the central ridge tit, gradually approaching and contacting with said ridge. The distance from the prong of an engaging plug to the point where the convolutions lit approach and touch the central ridge is approximately the same as the convenient distance between adjacent connector plugs so that good firm electric contact is assured in all plugs. If it is desired to place the plugs close to each other it will be noted that the convolutions 33 adjacent the depressed con- Evolutions 82 are disposed inwardly of said last bit mentioned convolutions and will thereforeexert sufficient pressure upon the prongs of all plugs to bring about an efficient electrical contact. When the prongs of a second connector plug are now put in place, the contact created by the pressure of the convolutions 83 of the bus bar will therefore be slightly increased owing to the presence of the first connector. From this figure it will be obvious that the length of the distorted portion of the bus bar is not much greater than the width of the engaging prong; and for this reason, my invention provides adequate electric contact between the bus bar and the prongs of any number of connectors which are being used.

While I have shown the connector 35 provided with ridges on the inner faces of the walls ill thereof which engage with longitudinal grooves formed in the walls 44 of the body member, it is obvious that the spacing of the flanges M in relation to th width of thebody member may be so proportioned that there will be sufficient frictional contact to maintain the parts in connected relation under certain conditions of service without the use of the grooves and engaging ridges.

These and other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims and I.

iormed with grooves of circular cross-section in communication with the prong grooves, an interspaced, helicallydormed bus bar mounted in each circular groove and extending into the adjacent prong groove, a connector plug having interspaced prongs for engagement with said prong grooves of said bus bars, each of said bus bars being smaller in cross-sectional diameter than the engaging circular groove and being so constructed and arranged that the immediate portionthereof engaged by said prong will be forced outwardly against the outer resilient surface or" said groove, adjacent portions of said bar being flexed inwardly ior firm prongengaging contact with other plugs engaging such groove.

2. An electric connecting device, comprising an; elongated body member of flexible dielectric material formed with substantially parallel and interspaced prong grooves opening up into the exterior surface of the body, said body being also formed. with grooves of circular cross-section in communication with the prong grooves, an interspa-ced, helically-formed bus bar mounted in each circular groove and extending into the adjacent prong groove, a connector plug having interspaced prongs for engagement with said prong grooves of said bus bars, each of said bus bars being smaller in cross-sectional diameter than the engaging circular groove and being so constructed and arranged that the immediate portion thereof engaged by said prong will be forced outwardly against the outer resilient surface of said groove, adjacent portions of said bar being flexed inwardly for firm prong-engaging contact with other plugs engaging such groove, and an outlet plug having a body of dielectric material and two contact bars embedded in said body, each bar having two parallel interspaced legs, one of said legs being relatively long and extending from the contact surface of the plug for engagement with-an electric outlet, the other leg being relatively short and extending from one of the sides of the plug, said short leg projecting inwardly in intenspaced relation with the plug and in the same direction as the long leg for engagement with the bus bar of the device, wherebythe bus bars will be energized. 1 ALEXANDER VON BARREL. 

